Shears for bars of structural shapes.



PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903,

5. F. DOOLITTLE. SHBARS FOR BARS OF STRUCTURAL SHAPES.

ABPLIOATION FILED JUNE 6. 1902.

N0 MODEL.

Even/a;

No. 746,800. PATENTED DB0; 15, 1903. J. r. DOOLITTLE. SHEARS FOR BARS 0F STRUCTURAL SHAPES.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 6. 1902. V

K0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 746,800. 7 PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

- J. P. DOOLITTLE.

SHEARS FOR BARS OF STRUCTURAL SHAPES.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 6." 1902.

H0 MODEL.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 15,1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SHEA-RS FOR BARS OF STRUCTURAL SHAPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,800, dated December 15, 1903.

, Application filed June 6 1902. Serial No. 110,552. (No model.)

ing or punching bars or beams of steel or iron of the various cross-sections commonly termed structural shapes.

The object of the present invention is to provide means and attachmentsior adapting shearing or punching machines of the usual type for cutting 0d bars or beams of any of the common structural shapes or sizes Without the necessity of changing the machine or its attachments. It has been possible heretofore-to punch and shear oif such beams and bars by employing blades, dies, 850., formed especially to fit each size and section :of bar or beam to be cut; but this method necessitates an equipment comprising many expensive attachments for each machine where, as is usually the case, many sizes and shapes are to be cut, and in addition to the cost of making and storing said attachments much time and labor is required in taking ofi from and fitting to the machines the respective attachments. This labor and expense is eliminated by my invention, forthe machine having been fitted to out one size or shape it will cut anyv other of the usual sizes or shapes of structural bars or beams without furtherchange. A further advantage is sought to be gained by constructing the apparatus in. such a way that long beams may be introduced sidewise into the machine. Minor objects will become apparent from the description and claims.

To these ends my invention consists in the novel features, arrangements, and combinations hereinafter described and claimed, an embodiment thereof as applied to a single punching and sheariffg machine being illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- a Figure Iis a side elevation of a machine equipped with my invention, the rear end thereof being broken away; andFig. II is a front elevation of the same. Fig. III is aside elevation, and Fig. IV is a cross-section of an I-beam,and Fig.V is a crosssection of a channel-beam, showing the web portions slotted across, such being the first step in the operation of cutting off a beam. Fig. VI is aside view, and Fig. VII is an end view in section of an I-beam, and Fig VIII is a sectional end view of a Z-bar, illustrating the second step in the said operation. FigIX is a front view of the gag arrangement employed.

The reference-letter (1 represents the frame.

ofa punching and shearing machine of the ordinary type, having a shaft at b, which is rotated by any suitablemeans and by any available power. The main shaft b extends through the front of the frame to operate a vertically-reciprccatingl slide-block or plunger c by means of acrauk or eccentric formed in the shaft operating a short connecting-rod d, Fig. IX, the lower end of said rod being journaled in a suitable bearing-block e,ar-, ranged to reciprocate vertically in the plunger. The plunger 0 is provided with a counterweight f, adapted to hold it normally against a suitable stop at the upper end of its stroke, in which position'it'is shown in Figs. I and II.

The bearing-block c has a fiat under sur- -face,.an'd an opening of considerable depth is formed in the plunger under said block, so

that the block may reciprocate without driv ing; the plunger. In the front face of the plunger a shear-blade holderg is fitted, and in the rear face thereof is a punch-holder h, both of which holders are fitted to slide vertically and both being provided with fiat topsurfaces and with lateral flanges, as at'i, to rest upon shoulders formed in the plunger, as shown in Figs. I, III, and IX. The holderg carries a'shear blade j, which is preferably stepped upon its lower edge, as shown in Fig. I, in order that the. shearing operation may be accomplished with a short stroke; but said blade may have its cutting edge straight and atright angles to its line of travel, as indicated in Fig. VIII, if desired, provided. the stroke of the machine is long enough to permit. The holder h carrise a fiat punch k, which is preferably of a rectangular cross-seetiop, having its greatest width from front to rear of the machine. A corresponding die is set under-said punch in of two separate'blades, if desired. Theseaholder Z, raised above the bed of the machine.

Secured in a suitable holder m, attached to the bed of the machine, are two lower shearblades 11, so disposed that the blade j will pass down between them. A double blademade in the form of a die may be employed instead lower blades have their cutting. edges formed at an angle of about forty-five degrees, more or less, with'the line of travel of the upper blade. They are also provided with an offset at 0, the purpose of which will be explained hereinaften.

A rectangular block 1), commonly termed a gag, is fitted to be thrust in between the bearing-block e and the shear-holder g, An-' other gag-block q is similarly arranged between the block e and the punch-holder h. These gag-blocks each have handles project ing through vertical slots in the side of the machine, and recesses are provided for them in the side of the plunger, so that they may be respectively drawn out from under the block e. Thus it will be seen that by thrusting the gag p in under the block a the plunger 0 will be reciprocated downward by said block, carrying with it the shear-holder g. Likewise by thrusting in the gag q the punch will be operated. Y

A- cord or cable 1" is secured to the shearholder g, as shown, passing over suitable pul- .beams or bars to be cut.

leys, such as s, t, and up A counterweight (not shown) is attached to the cord '1', depending from the pulley a, and serves to overbalance the shear blade and bolder g, so that when the gag p is pulled out the shear-blade and holder will be raised up byv said weight into the plunger, thus leaving the throat of the machine clear for the introduction of the holder It may also be raised up into the pln'nger, and a notch 12 in the gag q may be' provided to engage one of the lateral flanges i of the punch-holder and support the latter in its raised position.

Fitted to slide into the throat of the machine over the bed thereof, resting upon'and guided by suitable ways, such as w, is a table w, which overhangs the machine on each side, beingmade long enoughto present an adequate support to the beams ,to be cut. Said table carries upon its upper face a rigid upright rib or stop g and a movable stop a,

between which abeam to be cut-such,for

example, as that indicated at 1-may be held.

The punch and its first to draw out bothgag-blocks, permitting the upper shear-blade to rise and then to raise the punch so that the beam may be introduced sidewise into the throat of the machine. T he beam is then laid upon the sliding" table against the stop 'y and the stop 2: is

brought forward against it. The table is moved preferably, but. not necessarily, to its rearward'position, as in Fig. I. The shaft 1) being in rotation, the punch k is put into operation by inserting the gag-q. After one punching is made in the beam the table is moved forward, and so on until a slot is punched entirely acrossthe web of the beam, as shown inIFigs. III, IV, and V. Theoperation of the punch k is then stopped by removing the gag'and the beam is moved forward to the position shown in dotted linesin Fig. I, resting upon the inclined front of the table and the stakes 2. In this positionit will be noticed that the lower flange or corner of the beam or bar rests against the offset 0 in the lower shear-blades and is rigidly held-- thereby from sliding down the inclined faces of the blades. The shear-blade j is then centered over the slot in the beam, and the gag 1) being thrust in the flanged side of the beam is sheared through, as indicated in Figs. VI, VII, and VIII. It is then only necessary It is obvious'that the leading principles of construction and modes of operation of the invention may be embodied in two machines instead of the single machine above described, although the latterispreferable; but conditions of installation might arise where it would be desired to use. one machine fitted with the punchk and the sliding table w for to turn the beam over and shearthrough the v roe slotting the webs of beams, and to employ another machine equipped with the shear- I blades j and 'n and a suitable inclined sup- IIO portin lieu of the frontof the table w for 1 shearing off the flanges of beams.

Other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention, and change may be made inthe details of the mechanism disclosed, provided the principles of construction set forth respectively in the following claims are employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention-- 1. In machines forcnttin'gofi bars or beams,

the combination of mechanism suitable for punching a slot across the web portion of a beamor bar, and means for shearing or punching the flange or side portions of said beam or bar comprising fixed parallel shear-blades set at. an oblique angle to the line of travel of the movable shear-blade, a movable shearblade adapted to travel in a straight line and reciprocate between said fixed shear-blades, means for holding the beam or bar upon said fixed shear-blades, and suitable mechanism for reciprocating said movable shear-blade, substantially as set forth.

ciprocate between said I 2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a punching and shearing movable shear-blade, a movable shear-blade adapted to travelin a straight line and refixed shear-blades and having cutting edges at right angles to its line of travel, means for holding a beam or bar upon said fixed shear-blades, and suitable mechanism .for reciprocating said. movable shear-blade, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine-of the class-described, the

combination with, a punchiug'and shearing machine, of fixed parallel shear-blades set at an oblique angle to the line'of travel-of the movable shear-blade and provided with offsets to hold a bar or beam in place thereon, a movable shear-blade adapted to travel in a straight line and reciprocate between's'aid fixed shear-blades and having its cutting surface or surfaces at right angles to its. line of travel, and suitable mechanism for reciprocating said movable blade, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine of the class described, the

combination with a punching and shearing machine, of fixed parallel shear-blades set at an oblique angle to the line of travel of the movable shear-blade and provided with oil'- sets or stops to hold a baror beam in place thereon, a movable shear-blade adapted to travel in a straight line and reciprocate between said fixed shear-blades and having its cutting edges at right angles to its line of travel, suitable mechanism for reciprocating 'said movable blade, and means adapted to support said bar or beam so that a flange thereof will rest in proper position upon said fixed shearblades, substantially as set forth. 5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a punching and shearing machine, of fixed shear-blades set parallel to each other and at an angle to-the line of travel of the movable shear-blade and'provided witholfsets or stops for retaining a bar or beam in place thereon, supporting means for said bar or beam .havingsurfaces inclined at the same angle as said fixed blades and provided with removable pins projecting from said in- 'clined surfaces at right angles thereto, a

movable shear-blade adapted to reciprocate between said fixed shear blades having its cutting edges at right angles to its line of travel, and suitable mechanism for reciprocating said movable blade, substantially as set forth. q

6. In mechanisln of the class described, the combination with a punching and shearing machine provided with a'suitable gag arrangement, of fixed shear-blades set parallel to each other and at an oblique angle to the line of .travel of the movable shear-blade, means for retaining-a bar or beam in place upon said fixed blades, a movable shear-blade adapted to be reciprocated between said fixed blades by said gag arrangement and having its cutting edges at right angles to its line oftravel, a suitable holder for said movable blade, and a counterweight in operative connection with said holder adapted to raise the same and its blade clear of the throat of the machine when said blade is thrown out of operation by the removal of the gag, substantially as set forth.

7 Inmechanism of the class described, the

combination with a punching and shearing machine, of a slotting-punchand mechanism for operating it, a suitable die therefor, a sliding table upon the bed of the machine arranged to be reciprocated from front to rear of the throat thereof and adapted to hold a' beam or bar and carry the same across said die, a reciprocatingshear-blade having its cutting edges at right angles to its lineof travel, fixed shear-blades secured to the bed of: the machine having theircutting -faces set parallel to each other and at an oblique angle to the line of travel of the reciprocating blade and so disposed that the latter will pass between them, and means adapted to support a beam or bar so that the flanged side thereof for operating it, asuitable die therefor, a slid ing table upon the bed of the machine are ranged to be. reciprocated from front to rear of the throat thereof-and adapted to hold a ,die, a reciprocating shear-blade having its outt-ing edges at right angles to its line of travel,

. machine having their cutting-faces set parallel to each other and at an oblique angle to the line of travel of the reciprocating blade and so disposed that the latter will pass between lhem, offsets or stops in said fixed blades to engage a bar or beam to becui, and an inclined frontface upon said sliding table provided with removable pins projecting therefrom and adapted to support said bar or beam so that the flanged side thereof will rest in proper position upon said fixed blades, substantially'as set forth.

- In testimonywhereof I affix my signature,- in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, at Cleveland, Ohio, June 4, 1902.

JOHN F. DGOLITTLE. Witnesses:

L. ;G-. HOPPER,

JOHN T. SULLIVAN.

10c beam or bar and carry the same across said 

